Pregabalin Addiction Help

November 4, 2025

7:03 pm

Many people call in (and email us) regarding pregabalin addiction help. When the medication was licenced and marketed no one knew how addictive it would become. The concerns around Pregabalin are now so serious that the medication is now a controlled drug. This means is you have it without a prescription: You are breaking the law.

If you need Help For Pregabalin Addiction , need a Free Rehab Referral Service then call (or email) Find Me a Rehab. You will be speaking with an experienced addictions clinician.

Why is Pregabalin Addictive?

Pregabalin was licenced as a newer type drug to stop epileptic seizures. It does so by reducing the release of neurotransmitters on receptor sites in the brain. While the precise mechanism of action is not known, precisely, studies have shown that is reduces the release of three naturally occurring chemicals in the brain.

Pregabalin Addiction Help

While originally designed for use for Epileptics, as with many drugs, it was found that it has significant pain relieving properties in those who experience fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain. In addition, it’s use for anxiety reduction was also discovered. Latterly, it is being used in treating patients with benzodiazepine dependency and relapse prevention in alcohol addiction.

The problem is quite simple: When you use Pregabalin, because of the chemical changes in the brain (and the structure at the receptor sites) you become tolerant. This means you will need more and more to have the same effect as the dose you started on. Furthermore, if you stop taking it suddenly, you will experience withdrawals. These can range from mild to life threatening.

Pregabalin Withdrawal Symptoms

  • Chronic insomnia
  • Severe nausea
  • Blinding headaches
  • Prolonged diarrhea
  • Heightened anxiety
  • Severe sweating
  • Chest pain
  • Uncontrolled cravings
  • Paranoia
  • Suicidal thinking
  • Seizures (if taking the medication for this)
Pregabalin Addiction Help

How Long Does Pregabalin Withdrawal Last?

If you stop taking Pregabalin and you have been taking it for some time, you will start to experience withdrawal symptoms within 24 hours.

While there are few studies on this phenomena, our in house clinicians tell me that, usually, the symptoms will start to reduce after one week. However, they have seen people experience symptoms for much longer.

Pregabalin Addiction Help

The difficulty is that nearly everyone who tries to stop, by themselves, will succumb to the cravings which can be completely overwhelming. There is also an inherent risk of overdose. This is because, within 24 hours, your brain starts to loose tolerance. People, invariably, take more than they normally do, to try and stabilise themselves. This can then render someone to overdose. There is no known medication that can reverse the effects of Pregabalin so care is supportive.

My GP Is Trying To Reduce My Script: What Can I Do?

Now that Pregabalin is a controlled drug, there is pressure on GP’s (from NHS commissioning ) to reduce it’s use. In prisons, many patients are tapered off and offered safe and non addictive alternatives. Usually, the prison healthcare team will want to ensure the drug was prescribed by a hospital consultant otherwise they will reduce and stop it.

Due to the worrying withdrawal symptoms, patients are, naturally, reluctant to engage in a reduction plan with their GP. Some will turn to the internet but you never know what you are taking when you buy medication on-line. It might say Pregabalin on the label but that is meaningless. You could be taking contraceptive pills, chalk or fish antibiotics. Others buy from street dealers: Again there is no assurance you are actually taking Pregabalin.

Is There A Detox For Pregabalin?

Yes. The most effective, and safest way, is to reduce in a rehab centre under the guidance of an experienced addictions clinician, nursing staff, support staff and therapists. To keep costs down you many want to work on a reduction plan, with your GP and then, when you are at the tail end of your taper, come into rehab for the final part of the treatment plan.

How Long Does a Pregabalin Detox Take?

That depends on how much you have been taking and for how long. As Pregabalin comes in different strengths (and liquid) it means your clinician can work collaboratively with you on an agreed treatment plan.

Ordinarily, no reputable centre would admit you for less than 28 days. However, there are some that would consider a 2 week programme. At the absolute minimum: 10 days. It would not be safe to admit you for a week as you may be discharged with cravings. As mentioned above, if this were to happen you would have little (or no ) tolerance to the medication and would take more than you used to so as to stop the cravings. This would put you at very serious risk of overdose and death.

What Can A Rehab Do For Pregabalin Addiction?

In a rehab centre your treatment plan would be put together by an experienced addictions clinician after an assessment. This would look at your use, all prescribed medication and your medical history. While your GP should be involved, if you would rather not involve them a medical summary would be needed. This is available from your GP admin team, for free, and without having to ask why.

Modern day medical record systems allow for a medical summary to be formulated and printed with only a few buttons being pressed. It is purely an administrative matter and you would not need to see a doctor to get a summary.

If you need Help For Pregabalin Addiction , need a Free Rehab Referral Service then call (or email) Find Me a Rehab. You will be speaking with an experienced addictions clinician.

Pregabalin Addiction Help

Usually, people get addicted to Pregabalin because they were prescribed it for a medical condition. However, there are alternatives. For neuropathic pain there are other medications that are not addictive and offer better pain relief. These can be started in rehab and your NHS GP may consider prescribing them on the NHS or on a private prescription. Duloxetine is a good example.

In rehab you will be able to address the underlying reasons for your addiction. There may be unresolved psychological trauma, untreated mental health conditions or other reasons why you feel you can not live without it.

Aside from the group therapy element of rehab, there are individual sessions as well as adjunctive therapies also add to the recovery process. A major element of recovery is developing a mental toolkit which will help you deal with situations that would, normally, lead to relapse.

All centres provide a minimum of a years aftercare. This is either a group, once a week as well as telephone support. Some clients choose to continue (at an additional fee) with the therapist they saw in rehab.

Pregabalin Addiction Help

How Can Find Me a Rehab Help?

Our in-house addictions clinicians have helped many hundreds of patients recover from Pregabalin addiction. They work in rehab centres, GP shared care services, Private hospitals, Statutory Services and prisons.

We do not charge for you to speak with a clinician or for a referral to a rehab centre. Whichever clinician is free will answer your call (our 0333 number goes to an app so anyone of the clinicians can take your call if they can). Very rarely, no one is free, immediately, but you will be able to leave a message. Emails are answered very quickly.

Medical confidentiality is, of course, paramount. Our advice is impartial and available to all. You could be a loved one, friend, employer or someone who needs help for themselves. We can not discuss referrals with a 3rd party without the expressed consent of that person: This is standard with any healthcare setting.

If you need Help For Pregabalin Addiction , need a Free Rehab Referral Service then call (or email) Find Me a Rehab. You will be speaking with an experienced addictions clinician.

Need help finding the right rehab for you or a loved one? Get in touch today and take the first step toward recovery.

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